Movable dam



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. KIRK.

MOVABLE DAM.

No.268,411: Patented DQS()Q 5, 1882.

N. PETERS. Plwxo-Lglhognpnor. wnshmlon. D. a

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. KIRK.

MOVABLE DAM.

No. 268,411. Patented Deo. 5, 1882.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A. KIRK. MOVABLE DAM.

No. 268,411. Patented Deo. 5, 1882. Y

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ARTHUR KIRK, OF SHARPSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

MOVABLE DAM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 268,411, dated December5, 1882.

Applicatonfiled May 31,1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, ARTHUR KiRK, ofSharpsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Movable Dams; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof. My invention relates to improvements in the construction ofmovable dams and locks, whereby they are stronger, safer, more durable,and lnore easily operated than those heretofore in use. By myimprovements defects heretofore existing in the old bear-trap plan areovercome. My invention oonsists,tirst, in constructing the foundationwith several floors having intervening spaces which are divided intocompartments by partitions of any desired height formed by boards laidalternately at an angle to each other, so arranged as to cross atintervals, and then fitting the'spaees between the boards with cementand the compartments with sand, gravel, stone, orothersuitable material;second, 1n extending the ends of the top tloor several feet beyond thefoundation to protect the latter from percolation or wash of the water,which undercuts the foundation; thi-rd, of an improved dam-gateconsisting of a double journal or pintie bolted to one part, witheachjournal working in one end ofa double-ended sleeve on the otherpart, the said parts being respectively bolted to the gate orfoundation, and each pintle works in the adjoining ends of two sleeves,so that as long a hinge as is desired is made by simply addingduplicates of the parts named; fourth, of a rising gate or gatesprovided with a telescopingjoint, which, permitting a limited movement,will enable the gates to accommodate themselves to any unequal settlingof the foundation; ifth, of an open sluice, Water-Way, or tail-race soarranged relatively to the dam that the water which is not required tosupport the leaves will escape, and so relieve the dam of allunnecessary pressure; sixth, in supports or props hinged to thefoundation, Linder the gates, for use in supporting the gates in case ofrepairs; seventh, in operating the wickets by levers connected topistons actuated by hydraulic, air, or steam'pressure supplied from andcontrolled at a common point; eighth, in a moving signal connected tothe rising gate, and so arranged as to indicate the elevation of aresectional views of the gate-hin ge.

the dam; ninth, in use of wooden screws in those parts exposed to water;and, iinally, in details of construction hereinafter set forth.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willnow describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawings, (threesheets,) in which- Figure lis a vertical cross-section of the dam andfoundation, the gates being down. Fig. 2 is a like view of the gateswhen up. Fig. 3 is a detail view, illustrating the construction of thefoundation. Fig. eis a view of one form of the relieving tail-race. Fig.5 is a section of a portion of one of the gates, showing thetelescopingjoint and the watertightjoint between the end ofthe dam andthe abutment. Fig. 6 shows the use of the wooden screws in theconstruction of the gates. Figs. 7 and 8 Fig. 9 illustrates the mannerof operating the wickets from one point4 by steam, air, gaseous, orwater pressure. Fig. 10 is a view of the signaling apparatus.

Like letters ot' reference indicate like parts in each.

The foundationA 1, the gates 2 and 3, and lower wall, 4, are made ofboards or planks of wood (or sheets of iron) in longitudinal andtransverse courses 5 and 6, of irregular length and width, so thatthe-boards of each longitudinal or transverse course shall break jointwith those of other longitudinal or transverse courses. Thisconstruction does away with the necessity ot' preparing the timber-toany particular size or shape, and makes a stronger and more compactstructure than can be obtained in the use of solid cut timber.

The foundation 1 is constructed of several distinct floors, 7, S, and 9.rI he rst door, 7, rests on the transverse timbers 10, and is composedof three or more longitudinal and transverse courses of boards, 5 and 6.Above the door 7 are a number of compartments, 1l, of any desired size,formed by partitions l2,made ot' boards or planks 13 14, Fig.3,crossingeach other at intervals aiidpiled to any desired height to form pens.The spaces l5 left between the parallel boards by the lateral ones arefilled or closed with cement to make themwater-tight, and then thecompartments ll are lled with stones, gravel, sand, or other heavy IOC 2v eea/arr material. The second floor, 8, is similar in construction tofloor 7, and covers the compartments 11. Above it other compartments,16, similar tocompartmentsll,areformedby building the partitions 12 upto the desired height. The spaces 15 are then closed with cement and thecompartments iilled with stone or other suitable material, the same ascompartments 11. The third or top iioor, 9, is made in the same way asthe floors 7 and-8, but preferably thicker, and with the ends extendedbeyond the substructure, up and down stream, as at 61, to prevent thefoundation being damaged by the percolation or reaction of the waterinto and Ythrough it, which might occur if the wash or waves struckimmediatelyagainst the substructure.

The gates 2 and 3 are constructed, as described, of longitudinal andtransverse courses of boards or planks 5and 6, which break joint witheach other. These gates are of any desirable length, being made longenough to eX- tend across the stream. This is possible by reason of theboards or planks of which they are formed overlapping each other, sothat, in fact, there need be no limit to the length of the dam. Thegates are hinged so that the upper one, 2, overlaps the end of the lowerone, 3, whether open or closed. In order to relieve the friction of thelower gate on the upper one in opening and closing, I provide'the lowerone, 3, with a friction roller or rollers, 17, at its outer upper edge.The gate 3 is hinged to the foundation 1, and when closed lies flat nearthe floor 9. The gate 2 is hinged to a wall, 4, at such a height thatwhen closed it shall be horizontal, or nearly so, and rest upon the gate3. Under the gates, and hinged to the foundation at 18, are pivotedsupports 19, used for sustaining the gates in an open position tofacilitate repairs, as shown in Fig. 2. When not in use the supports 19are laid iiat ou the floor 9, as shown in Fig. l.

The hinge, Figs. 7 and 8,is ofnovel'construction. The eye 20 is boltedto the foundation. The pintle 21 is bolted to the gate. It consists of aplate, 22, by which it is bolted to the gate or gates, a central web,23, and a pintle, 21, extending both ways from the central web, formingtwo pintles, 24C. Each pintle 24 enters the recess 25 of one end of theeye or socket piece 20. The socket-piece 20 islike a section of a tubehaving a central division-wall, so as to strengthen and divide it intotwo parts. The pintles 24. enter the adjacent ends 25 ot' each of twosocket-pieces, 20, and the socketpieces are secured irmly in place bybolts 26 and the pintle pieces by bolts 27. The upper side is cut away,as at 28, to provide room for the web 23, while below the edges meet. Onthe under side are projections 29, which are let into the foundation.This hinge is strong, cheap, and durable, and the parts t together so asto be water-tight. By simply adding other pieces it can be extended toany desirable length. I prefer to make the meeting edges serrated or ofequivalent form, so that the waterwhich enters between them is caused`to act as a packing to thejoint and seal it.

The gate or gates 2 and 3 are provided with telescoping section or joint30, (see Fig. A5,) which is formed by cutting the longitudinal coursesof timber off with an even edge, as at 31, across the gate, and thetransverse courses in like manner, as at 32, back of the ends 310i1 thelongitudinal timbers. The part between the two cuts 31 and 32 is notbolted, so that the interleaved ends are free to move on each other, andin case ofthe settling of the foundation 1 at any point the gate,parting slightly, as at 30, is able to accommodate itself thereto.Heretofore the rigid structure of the gates caused them to standstraight, and not follow the foundation in case of its sinking. Thejoint 30 is water-tight, and is simple in form and construction, easyand effective in operation.

At the ends of the dam I form a water-tight joint between the gate orgates and the stationary abutment 33 by means of a movable timber orpiece, 34, ruiming transversely of the gate in a recess on its edge.Back of the timber 34 is a recess or channel, 35, which communicates tothe water above by a large inlet-opening, 36, at the upper end, and hasa smaller discharge-opening, 37, at the lower end. The water from above,entering the channel 35 by the large opening 36, causes the piece 34: tobe pressed out against the wall 33 and form a tight joint therewith. Thewater escapes from the channel 35 by the small exit 37. There is littlefriction between the piece 3i and the wall 33, because as soon as thegate 2 begins to descend the pressure on 34 is relieved and it fallsback in `the recess 35. The discharge 37 is to prevent the collection ofsediment in the recess 35, which might prevent the working of the piece34.

In the end wall of the dam I make an open sluice, water-way, ortail-race, 38, Fig. 2, at such height as will permit all Water which isnot required to sustain the gates to escape from under them. When thegates are down, as in the position shown in Fig. l, the water isadmitted by the wickets under them. This raises and floats them up untilthey reach the position shown by Fig. 2. By that time thewaterhavingreached the sluice 38, which passes through the wall around the end ofthe gate, will 110W freely through, sustaining the gates at that level.

A modified construction of the sluice 38 is shown by Fig. et, where theoutlet 39 in the wall is below the level ofthe water, the latter passingthrough the outlet 39 into a forebay or well, 40, and thence over thebridge 4l."

If desired, the discharge-opening may be controlled by a valve operatedby a tloat.

It is apparent that the form, place, and details of construction of thesluice for relieving `the gates from excessive pressure belowr can bevaried by the skilled constructer; but in all ICO IIO

lter to and from the dam to one spot and put it under the control of oneman. To the shaft of' each wicket 42, Fig. 9, I attach a lever, 43,

the other end of which is connected'to a piston, 44, working in acylinder, 45, from which a pipe, 46, leads to the operators stand 47.The pipe 46 is connected to a compressed-air tank, 48, and is controlledby a suitable cock, 49. All of the wickets are similarly connected. Theoperator,havingthe cocks all within reach, can open and close'thewickets at pleasure and with uniformity. l thus save in labor and timeand secure greatefciency of operation. I prefer to use a three-way cockand avacuuxncylinder, 50, for relieving the pressure on the pistons 44,as thereby the action is moreprompt. I can use steam, water or otherliquid or gaseons medium for actuating the pistons by simply adaptingthe apparatus thereto.

I have also devised an automatic signal which shall showthe exact heightand position ot' the dam. f frame of posts, 5l and 52, and cross-piece53. A stationary lantern, 54, flag, or other signal is placed on thecross-piece 53 at a suitable point. A rope or chain, 56, is fastened tothe outer end of the rising gate 2, and passes up over pulleys 57,placed at the corners of the framing, and is provided with a Weight, 58,at the other end. A lantern, 59, orother signal is fastened to the chain56 in such relation to the signal 54 that upon the rising or falling ofthe gate 2 it shall change its relative position to the signal 54, andthereby clearly indicate the exact position of the gate or dam. 'Theoperation ot' the signal bythe moving of the gate itself insuresabsolute accuracy and great consequent safety. v

The planking ot' the various parts of the foundations and gates whichale exposed to water is fastened by woodenscrew-bolts 60,

Fig. 6, the threads of the male screw being preferably of a quickerpitch than that of the female screw, so as to force the parts tightlytogether. The bolts are made of dry or partially-dried wood, and whenexposed to the Water will swell and make a very tight fastening.

I am aware that the crib-work has heretofore been constructed ot timberupon a ioat` 011 the end wall I erect al 1. A dam-foundation constructedof several oorshaving intervening spaces divided into compartments bypartitions formed of boards laid to cross each other at intervals andcemented between, and the compartments filled with stone or othersuitable substance, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. A dani-foundation composed of two or more iioors, the space betweenthe floors being filled with stone or like material, and the upper tloorextending beyond the substructure to prevent the wash and percolationofthe water from undercutting the foundation, substantially asspecified.

3. A dam-gate hinge consisting of a double journal or pintle bolted toone part, working in the adjacent ends of a double-ended sleeve securedto the other part on each side of it, said sleeve having a centralpartition to strengthen it and separate the two ends of the adjacent4pintles, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. A rising dam gate or gates provided with a telescoping joint,substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. The combination, with a dam-gate and its abutment, of a ,movabletimber-piece running transversely ofthe gate, and means, substantiallyas specified, for exerting a yielding pressure on the movabletimber-piece, whereby a tight joint between the abutment and gate isobtained. substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. A bear-trap dam having a relieving or open sluice extending fromunder the gates, so as to relieve them from unnecessary pressure,substantially as and for the purposes described.`

7. A rising dam provided with hinged supports under the gates,substantially as and for the purposes described.

8. The combination ofthe wicket-stems with pistons connected thereto,cylinders, pipes leading to a common central oftice, andcontrolling-valves, whereby all the wickets `may be operated by liquidor fluid pressure from a common center, substantially as and for thepurposes described.

9. The combination of a rising dam with a signal chain or Icord attachedthereto, and a lantern or other signal to indicate the condition of thedam by its change of position, substantially as and for the purposesdescribed.

10. A wooden dam or foundation the courses of which are fastened bywooden screw-bolts, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereofl have hereunto set my hand.

ARTHUR KIRK.

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